The Salesian tradition is rooted in the witness of two extraordinary Catholic saints Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. Their influence lives on not only in the many religious orders based on their spirituality, but in the countless people from all walks of life who continue to draw inspiration from their work. Salesian spirituality emphasizes the role of the heart, a universal call to holiness, the cultivation of little virtues, and the radical freedom of living in friendship with Jesus.

Wendy M. Wright is professor of theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Her books include Sacred Heart: Gateway to God (Orbis) and Francis de Sales: Introduction to the Devout Life.